Line #45 HoYay/NeonGenesisEvangelion


1	[[quoteright:365:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Gender_cannot_stand_in_the_way_of_love_Shinji_7044.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:365:]][[YaoiFangirl “Gender cannot stand in the way of love”]]
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4	Given that Evangelion is such a long running franchise with so much emphasis on the relationships between its characters, it’s not surprising that some of its same-sex ones would come across as a teeny bit questionable at times.
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6	For Shinji/Kaworu, see '''[[ShipTease/NeonGenesisEvangelion this page]].'''
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10	* The onsen bath scene with Misato and Asuka at the end of episode 10. Through suggestive dialogue and giggling it's hinted that Misato was feeling up her mutually naked charge in some rather provocative ways, under the blanket of being [[SkinshipGrope "innocent girlie fun."]]
11	* Some will also say the relationship between Gendou and Kouzou is loaded with subtext/vibes. Amusing as the idea may be, it's not canon, though you can really imagine what you want with Eva...
12	* In episode 17, Kaji [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zzj-wISLS4 inexplicably flirts with Shinji.]]
13	--->'''Kaji:''' So, can I buy you a drink? Cup o' tea?\
14	'''Shinji:''' Kaji, I'm a boy.
15	* The scene is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DcX3XkcqbY recreated]] in Rebuild 2.0 and spiced up a bit as Kaji asks Shinji if he wants to go on a date with him. Shinji reminds him that he's a boy and in response Kaji says "No problem. Gender shouldn't get in the way of love," places his hand on Shinji's, gets close to his face, and tries (or pretends to) to kiss him and Shinji blushes, letting out an almighty squeal.
16	** There's a deleted/alternate scene on the 2.22 DVD where Kaji is introduced in a tram car, which ends with him suddenly saying "I love you" to Shinji before ducking out. So if that had been the final version, Kaworu wouldn't have been the first person to say that to him.
17	* There's also some LesYay played with in regards to Asuka and Rei in the official art. Their interactions in "The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still" actually bordered on a bizarre case of BelligerentSexualTension, especially since they made temporary peace with each other in the end.
18	** In ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'', Asuka later volunteers to pilot Unit 03 so that Rei can bring Shinji and his father closer together. She does this for ''Rei'', who in most incarnations she doesn't care for at all.
19	** They're on better terms in ''Angelic Days'' as well, once even holding hands.
20	** Even in the main manga adaptation, Asuka grows more comfortable in Rei's presence over time. When Shinji's in the hospital following his battle with Eva-03, the two of them are together in the waiting lobby (though quite a distance apart due to Rei sitting down while Asuka's standing against the wall) and vocalize their thoughts and concerns about Shinji to one another. The later scenes of Asuka declaring her hatred of Rei for being an emotionless doll never occur, with Kaworu being in Rei's place for one of them, and some of Sadamoto's artwork has Rei positioned as almost the Kaworu to Asuka's Shinji in terms of personal space. Particularly [[https://file-comic-4.anyacg.co/images/da/84/da8459447148bd8e6b6f1ba7cf55ca2fd2b4d412_130804_711_1100.jpg this cover.]]
21	** In ''Manga/NeonGenesisEvangelionCampusApocalypse'', there's a very LesYay scene between Asuka (playing the Virgin Mary) and Rei (playing Gabriel) during the Nativity Play. Quite frankly, it's impossible to miss. Either that or Asuka and Rei were sneakily insinuating that Jesus is Mary and Gabriel's lovechild.
22	*** After Rei reveals her true origins she expects Asuka to hate her, only for Asuka to ''scream'' at her that she doesn't care about what Rei is after all they've been through together. Remember that this is ''Asuka'' we're talking about, who hated Rei at the beginning.
23	* Hikari and Asuka? Hikari is pretty much Asuka's only friend. And after the battle with Arael, Asuka seeks out Hikari and stays with her for an unspecified time. During a late evening they share a bed and a tearful Asuka breaks down and reveals her inner insecurities to Hikari who comforts her, a testament to their friendship.
24	** The second film of the ''Rebuild'' series has a scene where Hikari approaches Asuka and shyly asks if she can sit with her at lunch. She's even blushing when asking it.
25	*** And pretty amusingly, when Misato finds Asuka trying to cook, and naturally correctly assumes that she's trying to do something nice for Shinji, for a change, Asuka flusters and tries to insist that it's for a girl. Alas, neither of them seem to think of the implications.
26	* ''Manga/ShinjiIkariRaisingProject'' does this with Asuka/Rei on illustrations and in Shinji's dreams and even in real-life as they become more friendly toward each other late in the series, Maya/Ritsuko, Rei/Misato because Rei obsesses about boobs and can't help touching them, and also Ritsuko/Yui and the terrifying Rei/Yui because Yui has the largest breasts of the whole cast. Also, there is much Shinji/Kaworu to be had and Asuka once jokes about Touji and Shinji having an intimate relationship. And of the more NoYay variety, Gendo simply loves his son Shinji so dearly he wants to bear-hug him from behind or take a bath with him. Look hard and you can probably see some Mana/Asuka too.
27	* Kensuke genuinely enjoys spending time with Shinji and in an early episode he offers Shinji emotional support when both are sitting around a campfire and gives him his jacket to wear because its cold out.
28	* A rather popular fan theory is that Ritsuko had unrequited feelings for Misato in college, supported by the fact that Ritsuko's mother refers to her as "Boy-shy".
29	** In one episode, when Kaji flirts with Misato, Ritsuko says that "The interaction of men and women is not very logical”, and then when going for drinks with Misato says "Been a while since I went out", despite going out for drinks with Kaji just one episode prior.
30	* Kensuke and Touji spend much of their time together, to the point where they feel comfortable enough peeing in adjacent urinals to talk naturally while doing so... as the camera pans by at least ''six'' unoccupied ones. They also practically lay on top of each other in episode five while taunting Shinji. The fact that neither of them ever call attention to such closeness indicates it's something they're both fine with or even used to, which fits with their close friendship and genuine understanding of each other.
31	** In episode eighteen, Kensuke sounds genuinely dejected at the mere idea of Touji being the pilot of Unit-03, seemingly out of concern rather than jealousy. For a character so steadfast in his obsession with the Evangelions that even his own life nearly coming to an end doesn't shift it, knowing that Touji might be in danger changing his perspective speaks volumes about how much he matters to him.

Context HoYay / NeonGenesisEvangelion